Mansfield Dog Spooked By Fireworks Possibly Stolen, Owner Fears

MANSFIELD, MA — A dog that ran away after getting spooked by fireworks on the Fourth of July was possibly stolen, according to Mansfield police. Owner Lori Burns asked the public for help finding her 10-year-old Keeshond, Shelby, who is sick and supposed to be on medication.

Burns told Patch Shelby has been in and out of the hospital for several weeks with pancreatitis and Cushing disease, as well as gallbladder and liver failures. Shelby also had to have her spleen removed. She has spent time in the intensive care unit at the Tufts Veterinary Hospital in Grafton, and according to Burns, Shelby is only alive because of that hospital.

"They saved her life," Burns told Patch. "She shouldn't have made it."

Shelby was on medication, so her disappearance heightened Burns' fears. Since the dog went missing last week, Burns has spent her time going door-to-door and putting up flyers in her west Mansfield neighborhood.

"We had people searching conservation land and had people search the woods for about 13 hours," Burns said.

Five days later, Burns said she received a call from a blocked number. The caller said she had Shelby, but wasn't going to give the dog back. Burns said she told the caller Shelby was sick, but the caller didn't believe her. The caller eventually wrote down the medications Shelby is on but still refused to return the dog and accused Burns of being an animal abuser.

The caller told Burns, "I have your dog, I just wanted you to know she’s safe, but stop looking for her."

Burns reported the phone call to Mansfield police, who fielded a second call from the number, but the caller hung up immediately. Police told WHDH that so far, they haven't been able to track down the caller.

Anyone with information about Shelby is asked to call Burns at 781-603 4475 or 774-266-6229.